kitchen remodeling Archives - Inspired Remodels

Black and white kitchen cabinetry with wood look flooring

How to Use Color in Kitchen Remodeling: Tips for SoCal Homes

By Inspired Remodels / Home Improvement / Comments Off

Kitchen remodeling breathes new life into a home. In Orange County, where style reigns, creating a high-end kitchen relies on the creative use of color. From cabinetry to flooring, backsplashes, and lighting, the right color choices transform your kitchen into a stunning, functional space.

Cabinetry: The Heart of Kitchen Design

Cabinets constitute the largest visual feature in most kitchens, making their color choice critical. Consider neutral tones like white, cream, or gray for a high-end look. These timeless shades give your kitchen a spacious and elegant feel.

Opt for deep navy, forest green, or even black and make a bold statement. These darker tones create a luxurious atmosphere and pair beautifully with brass or gold hardware. Orange County kitchens that draw on the environmental beauty of our area pull in soft blues or sage green without creating dark rooms.

For a stunning and stylish statement, mix cabinet colors. Use a neutral base for the upper cabinets and a richer tone for the lower ones or the island. This two-tone approach adds depth and visual appeal, creating a standout kitchen.

Kitchen Remodeling and Your Flooring Choice

Your choice of kitchen flooring provides another avenue to play with color in kitchen remodeling. For a warm and inviting feel, opt for light wood such as natural oak or ash shades. These tones work well with both contemporary and classic kitchen designs. That makes them the safe choice for long-term appeal.

If you prefer tile flooring, consider wood-look tiles. They offer the beauty of wood and the durability of tile. Or look for traditional floor tiles with patterned or textured designs in neutral or earth tones.

Backsplashes: A Canvas for Creativity

Planning the backsplash provides a playground or having fun with color. Subway tiles in white or neutral tones serve as the most classic choice. But modern Orange County kitchen remodeling projects often feature backsplash tiles as art. Glossy tiles in rich tones like teal, emerald, or cobalt blue bring energy to your kitchen.

For a more subdued, high-end look, consider marble backsplashes with natural veining. These offer subtle eye-catching patterns with a classic look. Orange County coastal kitchen remodels use tiles in beach-inspired hues like aqua or sandy beige to match the coastal vibe.

Balance your backsplash with the rest of the kitchen’s color palette to maintain harmony.

Lighting For Function and Mood

Lighting does more than illuminate the kitchen—it influences how colors appear. Choose fixtures that complement your kitchen’s overall style casting the best light on your color scheme.

Pendant lights over an island or dining area allow the introduction of metallic tones like gold, bronze, or copper for warmth. Opt for matte black or sleek chrome finishes for a modern or industrial touch.

Consider the lightbulbs you use. Cool white bulbs make whites and grays appear crisp and clean, ideal for a minimalist kitchen. Warm yellow bulbs create a cozy atmosphere and enhance natural wood tones. Include dimmer switches so you can adjust the brightness based on the mood and occasion.

Kitchen Remodeling Tips for Picking a Cohesive Color Palette

Start with your primary palette and build from there. For example, if you opt for white cabinets, bring in warmth through wood floors and color through the backsplash. If you love dark cabinets, balance them with lighter floors and countertops.

Don’t forget to consider the colors in the adjoining rooms. This gives the entire home a feeling of cohesiveness.

Kitchen Remodeling in Southern California Style

For a Southern California kitchen that reflects the Orange County climate and lifestyle, work with an Orange County kitchen remodeler. Inspired Remodels helps incorporate colors and finishes in a design that creates a space that feels fresh and welcoming. From sandy neutrals, ocean blues, and earthy greens to marble, quartz, and natural stone, you’ll see options for materials that not only give you a high-end look but also stand up to daily wear and tear.

4 Fall Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Ideas

As summer fades into fall, Orange County homeowners pivot their attention from outdoors to indoor spaces. If refreshing your home’s interior strikes your fancy, check out these four kitchen and bathroom remodeling ideas. Get inspired by the work of Inspired Remodels.

Add a Backsplash

Backsplashes make a splash in bathrooms and kitchens alike. Functionally, backsplashes prevent water from damaging drywall and make cleaning surfaces easier. From a design perspective, backsplashes provide a place to let your creative spirit shine.

In kitchens, use mosaic tiles, herringbone patterns, or subway tiles in designer colors for a classic yet contemporary look.

In bathrooms, create a backsplash and accent walls with textured tiles, glass tiles, or use marble or stone to add a touch of elegance.

Choose materials and colors that complement the existing decor, to create a cohesive and stylish look If the backsplash isn’t part of a comprehensive kitchen and bath remodeling project,

Add a Kitchen Island

A kitchen island addition significantly enhances the functionality and aesthetics of the area. It serves as an extra workspace, a spot for casual dining, and even additional storage.

If you love to cook, add an island with a prep sink or stovetop to work more efficiently. Is yours the home where everyone gathers? Create an island space that doubles as a buffet.

Use pendant lighting to transform an island into a focal point. Mix and match island cabinets and countertops to contrast with existing cabinets and countertops.

Whether your kitchen is large or small, a well-designed island transforms the space into a more practical and beautiful space.

Update Countertops

New kitchen or bathroom countertops create a fresh, new look without full kitchen and bathroom remodeling headaches or expenses.

Orange County homeowners love quartz countertops for the kitchen. Unlike granite, quartz doesn’t require sealing, making it an easy-care surface.

In the bathroom, granite has been the go-to option for years, but quartz is quickly gaining popularity for the same reasons people love it in the kitchen.

New countertops elevate the look of your kitchen and bathroom, giving them a fresh, modern vibe without the need for a complete remodel.

Accessorize

Sometimes, the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Swap out the hardware on cabinets and drawers and update the look of your kitchen and bathroom without breaking the bank. These days, popular finishes include brushed nickel, matte black, and brass because they go with everything from traditional to modern styles.

In the bathroom, add lighted mirrors for enhanced visibility and the feeling of spa-like luxury every time you walk in the room.

Update the lighting fixtures in the kitchen and bathroom to create a dramatic impact without remodeling the entire kitchen or bathroom. Layer your lighting with ambient, task, and accent lighting to create functional and beautiful rooms.

Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling Design/Build Pros

Whether you plan on a minor renovation to the kitchen or bath, get a quote from Inspired Remodels. This Orange County kitchen and remodeling contractor employs a design/build approach to home improvement.

Enjoy a single point of contact and a team of professionals who make your remodeling dreams a reality.

Schedule an appointment today.

After kitchen remodeler adds open shelves storing white cups and plates

8 Custom Kitchen Remodeling Ideas

By Inspired Remodels / custom cabinets, Home Improvement, Kitchen Remodel / Comments Off

In Orange County, custom kitchen remodeling focuses on creating functional spaces that integrate technology and look as great as the work. Homeowners want kitchens that incorporate light, airy designs, that play off our beautiful natural surroundings. With a focus on indoor-outdoor living, in 2024, custom kitchen remodeling ideas brought to life by Inspired Remodels incorporate blues and greens and favor natural wood finishes. Here are a few custom kitchen remodel trends to inspire you as you dream of your new kitchen.

Open Concept Layout

When it comes to Orange County living, the kitchen remains the heart of the home. Naturally, open kitchen designs continue to be popular. It’s not uncommon for Inspired Remodels to remove walls and rework spaces to create a multifunctional area for cooking, eating, and entertaining.

Open concepts make the most of abundant natural light and make spaces appear larger than they are in reality.

Incorporate High-Tech

From lighting to smart appliances controlled by apps, technology makes its way from Silicon Valley to Saddleback Valley. Induction cooktops keep kitchens cooler and ovens that double as air fryers cook food using healthier methods.

Voice-controlled automation sets a timer and smart lighting options adjust illumination with the tap of a button or your smartphone. If you create a modern kitchen, don’t forget to take advantage of all that modern technology offers.

Functional Sinks and Islands

Sinks provide more than a space to wash your hands or pots and pans. Large workstation sinks and farmhouse sinks offer not only incredible utility but style as well.

Islands now incorporate spaces to prep food, clean up, or eat. Adding water or electricity to a kitchen island increases the possibilities when it comes to design. When used for entertainment, the island also doubles as space for a buffet. Don’t forget to make use of island space for storage as well.

Beverage Stations

Coffee lovers and wine aficionados both incorporate beverage centers to make beverage preparations easier and stylish as well. These stations include appliances like coffee or espresso makers or wine coolers. Once a fringe addition to a high-end custom kitchen, now beverage stations appear in many custom kitchen renovations.

Sustainable and Natural Materials

Natural wood cabinets and natural stone countertops such as quartz continue to be popular in Orange County custom kitchen remodeling projects. Wood floors and even wood-look tile grace custom kitchen floors. This is just one way that kitchen remodeling designs bring the natural beauty of the outdoors into Orange County kitchens.

Drawers Replace Doors

Spacious pull-out drawers replace lower cabinets for storage. Drawers provide more usable space as they make the entire space more accessible and easier to organize. Deep drawers offer an alternative to pull-out hardware in lower cabinets. They represent the next stage in the evolution of kitchen design. Custom and semi-custom cabinetry provides drawers deep enough for pots, pans, and just about anything else you need to store.

Designer Backsplashes

No longer relegated to keeping the area between upper cabinets and countertops clean, backsplashes offer a place to incorporate design elements. From decorative tile to glass mosaics, the backsplash is making a splash in Orange County kitchens.

Nature-Inspired Colors

Warm neutrals and nature-inspired colors like green and blue bring a cozy yet modern feel to Orange County kitchen designs. These colors show up in cabinets, paint, and backsplashes.

Custom Kitchen Remodeling Pros

When you are ready to turn your custom kitchen modeling dreams into reality, turn to Inspired Remodels. Work with a design-build team that offers a single point of contact through the entire process.